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CHRISTINA BUSCHMAN architecture portfolio

Christina Buschman | 1

CHRISTINABUSCHMAN@GMAIL.COM 404 - 915 - 9863 ISSUU.COM/CHRISTINABUSCHMAN 355 SPALDING LAKE COURT ATLANTA, GA, 30350

Master of Architecture Tulane University - School of Architecture New Orleans, LA Bachelor of Architecture Minor in Preservation Studies Tulane University - School of Architecture New Orleans, LA

CHRISTINA BUSCHMAN 2 | Christina Buschman

TABLE OF CONTENTS

introduction

place of memory

sinker cypress

school of dance

URBANbuild 11

thesis: toward a more cooperative living

Christina Buschman | 3

Taking cues from Port Sulphurâ€™s industrial history, the project utilizes the previous sulphur refinery as a sustainable tree farm tasked with helping replenish the dying cypress swamps in southern Louisiana. The farm stretches between the River and marsh, with a main thoroughfare used to provide both access and water to the trees. A crane system runs the length of the site and is used to gather samples and specimens. The difference in geometries between the lot lines and the reach of the crane is used to hold pristine examples of cypress trees, specially breed to withstand the increasing salinity levels in the marsh. A house is situated amongst the trees adjacent to a ritualistic bathing space, which meets the bank the Mississippi. On the opposite end of the site, a point of repose is nestled into the marsh as a place of analysis and study of ongoing land erosion. The concept behind the project was to author a highly conceptual narrative concerning a single person fixated on a task and daily routine.

PLACE OF MEMORY Port Sulphur, LA | Spring 2015 | Professor Marty McElveen 4 | Christina Buschman

Christina Buschman | 5

A major point of focus for this project was the collection and reuse of water. Various places of reflection are designed to allow for the user to interact and observe the systematic tendencies of the Mississippi and its relationship with the cypress swamp.

cypress tree farm

PLACE OF MEMORY 6 | Christina Buschman

Christina Buschman | 7

cypress tree farm

PLACE OF MEMORY 8 | Christina Buschman

A ritualistic bathing space was designed as part of the userâ€™s daily routine. Water is allowed to flow into the building during times of flooding along the Mississippi, as well as gathered from the roof collection systems.

working space

Christina Buschman | 9

The preliminary phase of this assignment began with a material exploration of sinker cypress. Cypress logs, hundreds of years old, are dredged out of marshes and along the river. During its submersions the logs absorbs oils and minerals, creating a colorful gradient that dictates its story. The memory of place becomes a part of the wood.

material study

SINKER CYPRESS 10 | Christina Buschman

Christina Buschman | 11

During comprehensive studio, much of the focus was placed on building assembly. With the parallelogram site located in the historic warehouse district of New Orleans, I also focused on appropriately fitting the context. As a dance school, extensive open studio space and a large theater space was central to the design. The site is flanked by a twelve-story hotel and sandwiched between two-story, brick warehouses; an interior courtyard bring light into the building. The shading devices on the facades were designed to fit with the surrounding rhythm by using terra-cotta tiles as louvres, and tall planters as screens.

SCHOOL OF DANCE New Orleans, LA | Spring 2014 | Professor Bruce Goodwin 12 | Christina Buschman

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first

fifth

tanzakademie

SCHOOL OF DANCE 14 | Christina Buschman

A main point of focus in this project was letting natural light into the building. Another challenge came with how to appropriately program the tight corner of the site. In creating an inner courtyard and pushing circulation into the corners, I was able to maximize light and open studio space.

second

Akebia quintana planter screen Terra-cotta louvre system

fourth

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Every year the URBANbuild program begins with teams of two authoring a scheme for proposal. My team member, Horatio Ramirez, and I created a housing prototype around the cultural and environmental characteristics of New Orleans. Two masses are able to be arranged based on the userâ€™s needs - home, home/ work space, home/ rentable space, and home/ in-law suite. The larger mass holds the main house whose primary components focus in on a courtyard. A rain collection system allows the home owner to enjoy the courtyard space, despite the water, as well as visualize the runoff from the roof. The smaller mass is made to fit different potential purposes and is easily renovated from a separate space to a master suite.

URBANbuild 11 New Orleans, LA | Fall 2016 | Professor Byron Mouton | Horatio Ramirez 16 | Christina Buschman

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In exploring the different spatial configurations, my partner and I chose an arrangement that emphasized the patio as an additional room. Large openings allowed for increased fluidity from interior to exterior, and visually connect the spaces.

proposal

URBANbuild 11 18 | Christina Buschman

rain collection

moveable masses

renovation

SEE RENOVATION PLAN FOR APARTMENT LAYOUT SEE RENOVATION PLAN FOR APARTMENT LAYOUT

2117

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Model by Aurrora Smith

constructed scheme

URBANbuild 11 20 | Christina Buschman

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OPTION A

dining

constructed scheme

URBANbuild 11 22 | Christina Buschman

cooking

living

OPTION B

dining

cooking

living

For the scheme developed for construction, I worked on interior detailing and marketing. As a team we developed the layout of the house to fit special custom elements, such as a wall of storage that runs the length of the house. As single piece of furniture, the cabinet had to serve various function in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. In effort to keep the unit more affordable, it was designed with Ikea cabinets, with various custom detail added on. Christina Buschman | 23

With complexity of family structure and growing pressures on modern American families, we have outgrown the suburban ideal and way of cellular family living. And as cities continue to expand, the suburbs around them are densifying. More commonly than not these new developments consist of large, singlefamily homes packed onto a few joined lots. While this achieves the goal of increasing density, these families are placed in close proximity to one another with little to no connection. Although they maybe looking for something more flexible than the norm, most families still desires the unique qualities of subdivisions and the amenities they can bring. Scale, spatial organization, shared/ private space, yards and landscape - all of these things must be maintained. By using suburbanized cohousing as an armature for denisfication, many issues of the modern family can be address, such as increased work load, cases of adult child dependency, and natural family cycles. While Americanâ€™s are generally hesitant to adopt cohousing as a way of living, families who may seek extra support, like families with special needs relatives, can find that in cohousing.

THESIS: TOWARD A MORE COOPERATIVE LIVING New Orleans, LA | Spring 2016 | Professor Scott Bernhard

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Investigating cohousing as an armature for increasing density in American suburbs

COMMUNITY BUILDING acting as a social hub for the residents, the community building holds many of the shared programs, events, and therapies beneficial to special needs user groups

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ADJACENCIES

RHYTHM

GRADING

THESIS: TOWARD A MORE COOPERATIVE LIVING Investigating cohousing as an armature for increasing density in American suburbs

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NORTH toward historic downtown Decatur

Decatur Police Department

St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School

Adair Park and thee Mary Gay House

Ebster Park

Excellence Church

Lilly Hill Baptist Church

Decatur Housing Authority

EAST toward downtown Atlanta

WEST toward Decatur High School

Julepp Clothing C thingg

Kaleidoscope Studio

Resonte Atlanta Church

Thinking Man Tavern

Housing Religeous Commercial Historic

Renfroe Middle School

Atlanta’s United Tae Kwon DO

SOUTH toward Oakhurt Elementary School 25’

100’

200’

HIBERNIA AVENUE SITE Decatur, Goergia

Public

DECATUR, GEORGIA - A SUBURB OF ATLANTA Twenty minutes from downtown Atlanta, the once railroad stop town of Decatur has become absorbed and continually densified by suburban sprawl. The site, which is located near historic downtown Decatur, is surrounded by a development built of typical colonial revival style homes. The repetition of seven prototypes creates a sort of architectural monotony and sense of placelessness. Once a church, the 1.73 acre site has been slated for redevelopment into 20 luxury homes; thus achieving the goal of density, but is lacking connections to context and community Christina Buschman | 27

109 HIBERNIA AVENUE site plan, section, perspective @ 1/8” = 1’

THESIS: TOWARD A MORE COOPERATIVE LIVING Investigating cohousing as an armature for increasing density in American suburbs

28 | Christina Buschman

COMMUNITY BUILDING acting as a social hub for the residents, the community building holds many of the shared programs, events, and therapies beneficial to special needs user groups

street view of the cohousing subdivision

communal backyard PUBLIC BACKYARD large backyards are highly desired among suburbanites; by extending private backyards into a public zone, the users are able to gain spaces such as playgrounds, gardens, and pools

BLENDING IN TO PROMPT CONNECTIONS

Because of the program, user group, and desire to make this foreign mode of housing fit into normative American suburbs the architecture is meant to blend into the existing surrounding. Using typical suburban rhythms and forms, the cohousing community is designed to bring the residents together - forming a more cooperative neighborhood. The Charleston single house is used as a template for the private homes, with a small apartment or studio in back to house adult dependent family members. A side yard allows for each resident to have private parking, as well as a private green space. The communal elements are centered and oriented toward the street to allow the neighborhood to also access the pool and auxiliary building. By carefully organizing the cohousing subdivision around a specialized user group, Americans will be adaptable to this way of living as an immediate benefit is evident, while promoting efficient land use and more meaningful connections within American suburbs. Christina Buschman | 29

the Community House The skylights are carefully placed to let light filter into the communal living room, and cognitive therapy space. This softer light is proven to be beneficial to many different types of special needs.

The lofted living room provides a separate communal space for the community to gather. Additionally, the cognitive therapy space, with insulated walls and filtered, soft light, allows the residents access to a space for one-on-one and group therapy.

The community house, which is open to all residents, hosts multiple shared amenities focused on the user group of special needs families. The entry has a small seating area to help ease transitions into public space that many disabilities like autism find helpful. The communal kitchen, dinning room, and childrenâ€™s play area allow for the entire community to share meals. An auxiliary building, pool, and patio area are open to the surrounding neighborhood to act as a community pool.

The basement contains a rec room for games and movies, as well as storage. Additionally, spaces for music and art are open to residents for therapeutic and learning purposes. activity/ task based therapy creative outlet therapy social play space cognitive therapy and adjustment space

COMMUNITY SPACES shared spaces are designed to hold various types of theapies and activities that support the user group and provide and enriched experience

THESIS: TOWARD A MORE COOPERATIVE LIVING Investigating cohousing as an armature for increasing density in American suburbs

30 | Christina Buschman

AUXILIARY BUILDING this pavilion space is open to neighborhood use for various types of activities meant to engage the surrounding neighbors and residents

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COMMUNITY BUILDING acting as a social hub for the residents, the community building holds many of the

CONTACT ME

christinabuschman@gmail.com 404.915.9863 issuu.com/christinabuschman

32 | Christina Buschman